But Rae told reporters, a merger isn't in the works: "There's no open door. There's no door at all . . . It's simply a fiction."

Any merger would involve considerable policy gymnastics; the two parties take a different approach to the market economy and have different histories. Without permanent leaders in place, each is also uncertain about its future direction — not a good place from which to launch merger talks.

New Democrats are making efforts to regroup this week, taking the first tentative steps toward selecting a successor to leader Jack Layton, who died last week.

The NDP's federal council meets next week to set rules and a date for a leadership convention, expected early in 2012. Speculation is rife about successors.

For the moment, newly minted party president Brian Topp appears the most attractive candidate.

He's never been elected to political office, but is bilingual and has loads of experience as a backroomer, having been a political aide both to one-time Quebec NDP MP Phil Edmonston and former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow.

Topp, asked by B.C.'s NDP to organize its next election campaign, also has toiled as a union leader.

And, as if speaking from beyond the grave, Layton gave an enthusiastic endorsement to the Montreal-born Topp in a June party news release announcing Topp's NDP presidency: "Brian Topp is one of the most principled and hard-working people I know.

"He's been an integral part of our team for years and is just the person we need to bring us to the next level."

Discussion of Layton's wife Olivia Chow assuming the leadership seems to be driven more by emotion than anything else.

Chow, who impressed with her dignified behaviour through the past week, isn't fluent in French and her biggest claim to fame as a politician has been her marriage to Layton.

Layton's son Mike also is being cited as a successor.

But the 30-year-old former restaurant manager turned environmental crusader was elected to Toronto city council only last year.

And NDP spokesman Karl Belanger said he doesn't believe Mike Layton would want to run in a federal byelection to fill his father's Toronto-Danforth seat.

In their respective states of disarray, both the Liberals and New Democrats understand the challenge they face next month in the Commons, opposing the Harper government that owns a majority of seats and doesn't have to face voters for another four years.

Liberals, down to 34 seats, are delaying the leadership question, planning to choose Rae's successor in 2013.

Rae, personally, has not cancelled himself out as a longer term leader. But for now, Liberals plan to focus on rebuilding, and reinstating their political relevance through a preoccupation with core issues such as health care, jobs and the economy. The party has just announced a new, more interactive website aimed at reaching out to new supporters.